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10 Facts About Gynecological Cancer

By Dr. Kanika Batra Modi in Surgical Oncology , Cancer Care / Oncology

May 26 , 2016 | 4 min read | Read in Hindi

1. What is gynecologic cancer?

Gynecologic cancer is any cancer that starts in a woman’s reproductive organs. While they are often discussed as a group, each gynecologic cancer is unique. Each has different signs, symptoms, and risk factors.

The five main types of gynecologic cancer are:

Cervical Cancer	Begins in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus (or womb).
Ovarian Cancer	Begins in the ovaries, located on each side of the uterus
Uterine Cancer	Begins in the uterus, the pear-shaped organ in a woman’s pelvis where the baby grows when a woman is pregnant.
Vaginal Cancer	Begins in the vagina, the hollow, tube-like channel between the bottom of the uterus and the outside of the body. It is also called the birth canal.
Vulvar Cancer	Begins in the vulva, the outer part of the female genital organs, which includes the inner and outer lips of the vagina, the clitoris, and the opening of the vagina and its glands.

2. Who gets gynecologic cancer?

While all women are at risk for gynecologic cancer, this risk generally increases with age.

3. What increases a woman’s risk of getting gynecologic cancer?

There is no way to know which women will get gynecologic cancer. Each specific type of gynecologic cancer has a unique set of risk factors.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections that do not go away increase the risk of getting several types of gynecologic cancers. HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. It is one of the most well-established risk factors for these three cancers.
Significant Family history of malignancy in family.

4. How can I help prevent gynecologic cancer or find it early?

While there is no known way to prevent all types of gynecologic cancer, there are things you can do that may help lower your chance of getting them or help to find them early. It is important to find gynecologic cancers early, when treatment can be most effective.

Pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. In case of any abnormal vaginal bleeding for two weeks or longer talk to your doctor right away. Though the symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see a doctor.
Make healthy lifestyle choices. For overall good health, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables; exercise regularly; maintain a healthy weight; avoid smoking, and practice safe sex.
Get the HPV vaccine, if you are at an age when it is recommended. It protects against the types of HPV that most often cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. The vaccine is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls.
Get regular Pap tests. Pap tests (or Pap smears) are one of the most reliable and effective cancer screening tests available. Pap tests can find precancerous changes on the cervix that can be treated so that cervical cancer is prevented. A Pap test can also find cervical cancer early when treatment is most effective. Only cancer the Pap test screens for is cervical cancer. Pap screening is done even if HPV vaccine has been taken. Also, it is important to consult a Gynaecologist for recommendations for pap testing.

Fact: The Pap test does NOT screen for ovarian, uterine, vaginal, or vulvar cancers. Even if you have a Pap test regularly, see your doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms that are not normal for you. Check out list of some best cancer doctor in Delhi.

5. What are the signs and symptoms of gynecologic cancer?

Symptoms	Cervical Cancer	Ovarian Cancer	Uterine Cancer	Vaginal Cancer	Vulvar Cancer
Abnormal Vaginal Discharge or Bleeding	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pelvic Pain or pressure		Yes	Yes		Yes
Abdominal or Back Pain		Yes
Bloating		Yes
Changes in Bathroom Habits		Yes		Yes
Itching or Burning of Vulva					Yes
Changes in Vulva color or skin such as a rash, sores, or warts					Yes

6. What is staging and why do I need it?

Cancer staging describes the size and extent of the disease in the body and whether it has spread from its original site to other parts of the body. To find out the stage of gynecologic cancer, your doctor may perform several tests. These results:

Will help the doctor develop the best possible treatment plan.
Can be used to estimate the likely outcome or course of the disease.

7. What are the types of cancer treatment?

Different types and combinations of cancer treatment are possible, depending on the type of cancer and the stage at which it is diagnosed. Possible treatments include:

Surgery

A surgeon removes as much cancer as possible. The extent or possibility of surgery depends on the type of cancer, the stage, and the patient’s overall health.

Chemotherapy

A doctor uses drugs to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells. These drugs also can harm healthy cells, which may cause side effects. Side effects usually get better or go away when chemotherapy is over.

Radiation Therapy

A doctor uses high doses of radiation—high-energy rays—to kill cancer cells and stop them from spreading. Radiation therapy does not hurt while it is being given, but it can cause side effects.